COLIN DIXON has spoken for the first time about the ordeal he and his family suffered at the hands of armed raiders during the robbery at the Securitas depot in Tonbridge, in which the gang escaped with as much as £50 million.

The 51-year-old depot manager was stopped by two men posing as policemen while driving home in his Nissan Almera along the A249 between Maidstone and Sittingbourne on Tuesday before being handcuffed and forced to let the gang into the depot in Vale Road in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

His wife, Lynn, and their then eight-year-old son, Craig, were also kidnapped from the family's home in Herne Bay by two other gang members also posing as police officers.

Mr Dixon said: "The terror of what happened and the horror of what might have happened is with us in every waking moment. This horrific experience angers me beyond belief. We are a normal law abiding family and no one should suffer as we have done.

"For the criminals to use me is bad enough, but to kidnap my wife and child and put guns to their heads and threaten them with death, is something so frightening.

"I would like to tell everyone about the bravery of Lynn and especially Craig. It was his birthday on Friday - he was just 9 years old - and he's still in deep shock about what happened. He will carry this for the rest of his life.

"The police have been superb - supportive and entirely understanding of the shocking circumstances we find ourselves in.

"I appeal to the public to think if they can help catch the criminals who treated my family so menacingly. The police want to hear from you and I want you to call them. All information is critical to the picture they are building."

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~ Police picking up the pieces in hunt for armed gang
~ Faces of heist gang members
~ Gun was held to depot manager's head